Tag: nationalism

Foreign Policy, Realist Theory

Opening the Pandora’s Box

Bob Claude |

The killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and President Trump’s statement after Iran’s retaliatory missile strike unlocked a Pandora’s box of issues for both the the United States and the world.  All of them had to be dealt with at some point, but it would have been better to have done so through a measured and deliberate diplomatic process where the consequences could be managed over a longer period of time. The choices America must now quickly confront are many, but break down into four categories:

The extent to which American presidents should have the power to commit American military resources against terrorist groups and other nation-states. 

The wisdom and future of America’s involvement in the Middle East.

The future of European relations with America and the rest of the world.

The implications for the balance of power in Asia and the structure of international relations throughout the world.

The American nationalist and realist solution would be to end our involvement in the Middle East quagmire, reject the uni-polar dream of imposing a worldwide liberal hegemony and start to transition to a foreign policy that accepts the multi-polar world of diverse world powers and the dynamic shifting alliances that will be necessary to protect American interests in such a world.  This is truly the new world order.

If American democracy is to succeed in this international system, we must begin building the domestic and international framework necessary to achieve the support of the American public for the policies required to win in this new order.  Americans deserve to hear the 2020 presidential candidates take positions on each of the above issues to insure that the ultimate decisions are primarily driven by the American people and not a distant elite or, worse, by the decisions of hostile nations. This summary will begin a series of posts that will identify some of the hydra-headed choices facing us in each of these four categories.

General

The Origins of the Trump Revolution

Bob Claude |

The 2016 election ushered in a realignment of the political culture from a debate about big vs. small government and social issues to a one between globalism vs. nationalism. Aspects of those old debates remain, but they are now best understood as a clash between globalist elites ideologically committed to free trade, immigration and relaxed social values versus those who believe that stable families and the preservation of a national identity and the American Dream are more important. The attached article from 2016 is thus still relevant, if simply because it explains why approximately 40% of the electorate remains devoted to President Trump in spite of his obvious personal failures.

Politics has become more caustic because neither side fully recognizes this new alignment and the realistic legitimacy of the other side of the spectrum. To avoid this reality, media and governmental elites obsessively recycle the old debates much as the politics of the Gilded Age of the late nineteenth century degenerated into recycling old arguments about alcohol temperance, immigration, and responsibility for the Civil War (Rum, Romanism and Rebellion).

The rise of the Populist Party in the late 1800’s forced economic inequality, pernicious market power and the resulting crisis in democracy to the front of the debate. Eventually, the confrontational populist approach gave way to the Progressive Era, of which Theodore Roosevelt was a leader.

Donald Trump clearly is not that leader. However, his election will hopefully open the system to a new more constructive approach to the same kinds of issues that exist today. Whether this will require a new political party or an ideological shakeup of the current two parties still remains to be seen.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2016/03/08/the_25-year_tide_that_gave_us_trump_129902.html

Uncategorized

Mission Statement

Bob Claude |

America faces unique and dangerous challenges in today’s increasingly nationalist world.  Globalization has failed to render the nation-state obsolete, an always naive goal in a still anarchic world.  Instead, nations like China, the developing world and even Europe are defining themselves in terms of their respective histories and heritages, usually ethnic in origin. Managing the resulting tensions will require a realistic and restrained strategy built on America’s own social, economic and military strength. 

This strength ultimately springs from the unified commitment of the American people to the values of liberty, democracy, equal opportunity and the American Dream.  America is exceptional because it was based on these values, not mere ethnicity or a common history   However, the internal threats of identity politics and unbridled market power are weakening the community spirit on which our strength is based.  Our ability to remain a inspirational world power now hangs on whether we can overcome those forces and renew our shared commitment to our fellow American citizens. 

This site seeks to create a new political movement dedicated to preserving American sovereignty and values and the American Dream for all citizens while respecting the sovereignty and goals of other nations.   We believe the life and philosophy of former President Theodore Roosevelt offers a way to achieve this goal.  He confronted very similar problems during his time and led the nation on the path toward solutions.   Not all of his solutions will fit our times and we will not hesitate to highlight disagreements with his likely approach.   However, his dedication to both a strong America and a “square deal” for the average American still resonates a century later and can be the unifying political ideology we so desperately need.  We invite you to participate in this movement with your comments to this discussion and advocacy of these ideas in your own community.